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Here Paul uses psychology. "I know that it is superfluous for me to write to you about the offering for the saints at Jerusalem." Surly, in you repentant and revitalized state, you will know, your spiritual conscience will tell you, that you should make this offering and you will desire to do it. Then to add more wood to the flame, Paul added, "And I have already told the Macedonians of your readiness to do this." Yes, Paul even boasted of their enthusiasm for the offering.
Notice he acknowledges that their enthusiasm had not only stirred up the church at Corinth but had gone out into all the Providence of Achaia, the providence in which Corinth was. "Your zeal has stirred up most of them." However, "I am sending the Brethren", Titus, Luke and Apollos, "So that my boasting of you might not prove to be in vain." Why? "Because if some Macedonians should happen to accompany these three fellows down to Corinth, and find that you are not ready to make this offering, I am going to be humiliated."
Why didn't Paul go himself? Because he knew that his presence might coheres some
into giving and he wanted them to do this voluntarily. Paul wanted this to be a
"free will" offering. No pressure was to be applied, at least no more than this
letter would apply. There was to be no threats, no promise of "brownie points" and
what they gave had to be between them and God. "But, the Brethren will make you
aware of the need and give you an opportunity to contribute."
The Acceptable Manner of Giving
["Click here for II Corinthians 6-15"]
Three bits of information about stewardship are made by Paul in these verses.
First, attitude. Paul has made this statement three times in these two chapters on stewardship. "Give of you own free will, cheerfully." The key, freely and cheerfully. Why? Because God loves a cheerful giver. What does the "free will" part mean? It means you have made up your mind freely, not reluctantly nor under compulsion.
Now, what are the rewards? They are obvious and the evidence is all around us. Sow sparingly, reap sparingly. Sow bountifully, reap bountifully. This is God's nature and provision. God is able and will provide abundantly for every good work. Not only your physical needs but also your spiritual needs. He will increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Now, what are the results? Paul says that God will enrich you in every way and it will produce thanksgiving to God in Jerusalem. It will also supply their needs and your obedience will glorify God. It will show your knowledge of the teachings of Christ and it will cause love to be generated in the hearts of others and prayers to be made for the giver.
Paul ends the chapter with a Doxology, "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable or inexpressible gift." i.e. Jesus Christ, through whom we have eternal life.
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